Hutch
4th July 2009, 07:54 PM
...And not the one most Americans would think of (Benedict Arnold's act of Treason to turn over what is now West Point to the British is an amply documented conspiracy that was discovered). I speak of the mysterious actions of the Brothers Howe.
General William Howe was the Commander of British forces in America and his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, commanded the British Naval forces. They led a force of almost 30,000 men and nearly 100 warships against the City of New York and General Washington's force of about 20,000 militia.
Washington was (even then) an imposing leader of men, but as a battlefield tactician he was still learning his trade. He split his outnumbered army, leaving the bulk in Manhattan and the rest on Long Island. General Howe defeated this part of Washington's Army at the Battle of Long Island and had it surrounded, with the river at it's back...but did not follow though and capture the Americans, who managed to escape by barges that night under the noses of the British. And the fleet that could have cut them off? Well, they hadn't planned well and were caught out by the currents (so they say) and so Washington escaped to Manhattan.
And then....General Howe sat for nearly a month and did very little. When he finally attacked Manhattan he again pushed Washington North and finally got him to evacuate the island (again, the British fleet seemed unable to stop these crossings) without fighting a decisive battle that should have crushed the rebellion once and for all.
Historians have argued for many years that the Howe's secretly sympathized with the colonists and thus conspired to allow Washington to slip away and continue the fight. While vigorously disputed by most historians, it is notable that the Howes were much better commanders than they showed during this action and served with bravery and distinction against other foes over long and honored careers.
But this time, in 1776, they did about as poor a job as you could imagine....bad luck, or conspiracy?
**Some think the Howe's were aided by a Major Dewey and a Colonel Cheatam, but that is but speculation....;)
General William Howe was the Commander of British forces in America and his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, commanded the British Naval forces. They led a force of almost 30,000 men and nearly 100 warships against the City of New York and General Washington's force of about 20,000 militia.
Washington was (even then) an imposing leader of men, but as a battlefield tactician he was still learning his trade. He split his outnumbered army, leaving the bulk in Manhattan and the rest on Long Island. General Howe defeated this part of Washington's Army at the Battle of Long Island and had it surrounded, with the river at it's back...but did not follow though and capture the Americans, who managed to escape by barges that night under the noses of the British. And the fleet that could have cut them off? Well, they hadn't planned well and were caught out by the currents (so they say) and so Washington escaped to Manhattan.
And then....General Howe sat for nearly a month and did very little. When he finally attacked Manhattan he again pushed Washington North and finally got him to evacuate the island (again, the British fleet seemed unable to stop these crossings) without fighting a decisive battle that should have crushed the rebellion once and for all.
Historians have argued for many years that the Howe's secretly sympathized with the colonists and thus conspired to allow Washington to slip away and continue the fight. While vigorously disputed by most historians, it is notable that the Howes were much better commanders than they showed during this action and served with bravery and distinction against other foes over long and honored careers.
But this time, in 1776, they did about as poor a job as you could imagine....bad luck, or conspiracy?
**Some think the Howe's were aided by a Major Dewey and a Colonel Cheatam, but that is but speculation....;)